Demonstration Held In Boston To Protest U.S. Military Strikes in Syria
BOSTON (CBS) -- For the second week in a row, hundreds of people stood outside Park Street Station on the Boston Common to protest U.S.-led military action in Syria.
Several families of Syrian descent attended, saying the United States would be better served by trying to get terrorists out of their country.
"I want my country, America, to step in peacefully, politically," said Mike Chamo, who added that his family members in Syria have been held hostage and even killed by terrorists. "I'm sure there are ways around (having U.S. military strikes). I would want them to stop the rebels from killing people."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
Demonstration Held In Boston To Protest Strikes in Syria
Albira Chamo is among ethnic Syrians who do not believe President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons against his own people. "That is absolutely false," she said. "There is no Syrian person who wants this war."
Other protesters at Park Street Station were veterans of war. Each seemed to take the violence, and threats of more violence, personally.
"Certainly, Vietnam vets and others are against war based on their experience. (They) can't help but be," said Jeff Brummer, a member of Veterans for Peace, one of the many activist groups that participated in Saturday's protest.
"My responsibility goes beyond casting a vote on voting day," said Heather Mullins, who brought her daughter, Layla. The child was carrying an anti-war sign as big as herself.
"Two wrongs don't make a right. I don't teach that to my daughter. And we don't fight violence, claiming peace, with violence," Mullins said.
A prayer vigil against any U.S. attacks against Syria was also held in Boston on Saturday.
MoveOn.org Civic Action and several other groups are organizing another protest at Park Street Station on Monday night beginning at 7 p.m. The candlelight vigil is designed to pressure members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation to vote against U.S. intervention in Syria.
In a prepared statement, the local organizer for the event, Cole Harrison, said, "The Obama administration presses Congress to approve a war that the American people and the whole world rejects; and any military intervention will be a war against the Syrian people."
Congress is expected to vote on military action this coming week. So far, the majority of Massachusetts' federal lawmakers have not made their votes known.
